Switchboard.



H. F. KRANTZ.

SWITCHBOARD.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I3, |915.B RENEWED APR. 11.1916.

1,248,415. Patented Nov. 2?, 19117.

H. F. KRANTZ.

swaTcHsoAR. APPLICAUON FILED MAR.13,1915. RENEWED APH. 11,1916.

. 1 ,248,4 1 5. Patented Nwa 27 19m 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HUBERT F. KRANTZ, or BROQKLYN, Nrw YORK.

vSWTICHBCARD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

`Patented Nov. 27, 191'7.

.Application led March 13, 1915, Serial No. 14,130. Renewed April 11,1916. Serial No. 90,519.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known ythat I, HUBERT F. KRAN'rz, ya citizen of the United States,and residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York,have invented a new and Improved Switchboard, of which the followingspecification is a full disclosure.

This invention relates to a switch board.

The object of the invention is to provide a switch board having thevarious elements thereof so arranged that a maximum number of switchycontrolled connections may be safely made in a minimum of space and ina simple, efficient and practical manner.

A further object is to provide a switch board as above in which readyand convenient access is given to the various branch line connectionsand other parts.

A further object is to provide a switch .board in which the branch linewires, which Y lead to the branch line connections, are securelyprotected and shielded from view in a manner to protect the wiresagainst injury and to protect an operator from any injury which mightresult from contact with the wires.

A further object is to provide a switch board in which the variousswitch elements, main line and branch line connections are containedwithin a protecting compartment f and in which the branch line wires,leading to the various branch line connections, are conveyed to saidbranch line connections by means of tube-like housings which traversethe compartment and carrly the branch line connections in insulated reation to the main line connections.

A :further object is to provide a switch board as above in which aseries of branch line connection supporting members extend transverselyof and spaced from a series of bus bars, to the end that switchmechanisms arranged tandemwise along the bus bars may bemade to connectany one or more of the bus bars with a selected one or more of theoverlying branch line connections.

" I the board.

A further object is to provide main bus bars and auxiliary bus bars 1n anovel relation, and to provide means whereby the aux iliary bus bars maybe electrically disconnected from the main bus bars by a novelarrangement of switch mechanism.

Other objects will be in part obv-ions from the annexed drawings and inpart indicated in connection therewith by the following analysis of thisinvention.

The switch instrumentality herein shown is claimed in a divisionalapplication filed February 12, 1916, Serial No. 77,878.

This invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of parts, and in the unique relations of .the members andin the relative proportioning and disposition thereof; all as morecompletely outlined herein.

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to comprehend .theunderlying features thereof that they may embody the same by thenumerous modifications in structure and relation contemplated by thisinvention, drawings depicting a preferred form have been annexed .as apart of this disclosure, and in such drawings, like characters ofreference denote corresponding part-s throughout all the views of whichFigure 1 is a perspective of the rear side of a panel board embodyingthis invention, showing the arrangement of the various bus bars andshowing the branch-line housing unit, together with the quick-breakswitches operating in direct contact with the bus bars, etc.

Fig. 2 is a. detail showing the use of a replaceable wear plate forminga component part of a bus bar for taking up the disintegrating tendencyof the spark.

Fig. 3 is a detail of a. contact terminal adapted to be contacteddirectly by a brush of the switch.

Fig, i is a horizontal section taken through line 1 4 of Fig. 5.

Fig, 5 is a plain rear elevation of the panel board.

Fig. 6 is a plan partly in section and enlarged showing certain detailsof a toggle operated switch.

Fig. 7 is a front elevation showing the handles for operating `theswitch.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation showing in full= lines the handle in thetoggle-erecting position and showing it in dotted lines in thetoggle-,breaking position.

Fig. 9 is a detailed inside elevation of the.`

construction of a vconduit for receiving the branch-line wires.

Continuing now, by way of a more detailed analysis of the primarycharacteristics ot this invention, A designates a board of insulatingmaterial, as of slate, marble or the like, which forms the front exposed:tace of the panel carrying the operating handles and on the rear sideof which are mounted the various connections arranged in accordance withthis invention. B designates a strip of insulating material which willordinarily be ar anged at an angle with the front lace A and which maybe utilized to carry the bus bars X, Y, Z receiving current directlyfrom the mains. Various branchline circuits are to be supplied withcurrent derived from these ina-in bus bars. The branch line circuits areconnected to the main bnsbars preferably through the medium ot'auxiliarybus bars and these auxiliary bus bars, as g/ and e and m and y may beconnected with the main bus bars either permanently Aas shown withrespect to the auxiliary bus bars and y or by a switch mechanism asshown with respect to the auxiliary bus bars 00 g/ and e. This inventionproposes a very simple and direct manner of accomplishing the latterpurpose, by mounting the auxiliary bus bars m, y, e on the rear face ofthe board vA in such a way that a switch blade or brush may extenddiagonally through the corner space and contact at its ends with one ofthe auxiliary bus bars and with a terminal of one of the main bus bars.

Preferably,l a terminal contact piece l, 2, 3 will be provided for eachof the main bus bars and these terminals are each arranged equidistantfrom the board A. Each terminal piece may be composed of an angle memberattached to the board B by means o1 the toot d and providing a clip 5for receiving the contact end of a fuse 6. The contacting face ot thisangle member may carry al replaceable plate 7 so that when its surfacebecomes roughened by frequent use of the switch it may easily besubstituted by another. The opposite terminal of the fuse Gis receivedby a clip 8 extending from the extension 9 that is connected at itsupper end to the bus bar. The construction in the case of the contactpieces 2 and 3 is similar, save for the fact that the extension l0,etc., will vary in length in accordance with the distance of therespective main bus bars. The auxiliary bus bar a? is secured to therear :tace of the board A in the same horizontal plane as the contact lso that its end terminates diagonally opposite said contact and said endmay carry a replaceable facing ll similar to that indica-ted by 7. Theauxiliary bus bars y, a, etc., are arranged' in a similar manner.

v'and 13 closely adjacent the side board B that carries the main busbars, and extensions l-l and l5 ot suitable length will extend from theappropriatebus bars and terminate equi-distant trom the trent board A.This construction enables duplicate brace connectors 16 and 17 to beused for the purpose of permanently establishing connection between thebus bars Y and Z and the auxiliary bus bars and y.

rl'he main switch C is ln'eterably constructed of the double-break typein which the switch blades are pivotally mounted intermediate their endsand are adapted to swing into and out of circuit closing position. Inthe drawings the switch` C is provided with three independent blades asG, G and G one for each oi the auxiliary bus bars g/ and e. These areheld spaced apart in proper insulated relation and in coperativerelation with the adjacent main and auxiliary bus bars by means olinsulating and supporting members :i3 and 24k the opposite ends oit4which are pivotally supported as at Q6 and 27. A bracket 29 which.supports the 'end 26 may support also suitable mechanism by means oi'which the blades may be shiited into and ont of circuit closing positionthrough the medium et an operating handle l mounted at the opposite sideof the front board A and being connected with the switch blades by alink H which extends through a suitable aperture in the .t'ront board. n

It is proposed to locate a main switch C, adjacent the corner termed bythe intersection of the planes of the main bus bars and of the auxiliarybus bars so that the axis oi rotation of the main switch C will beparallel with the intersection of the two planes. As shown by Fig'. l,the main bus bars extend parallel. to said intersection and theauxiliary bus bars extend transversely to said intersection, and theterminals of these respective bus bars are preferably arrangeddiagonally opposite one another, as shown by Fig. l. This arrangementejtlects many important economies in the amount of metal and the numberof parts required.

In the illustrated embodiment, the blades G swingin a plane transverseto the intersection between the planes A and B, and when occupying adiagonal position they may establish an electrical connection betweenthe parts.

It will be noted that this arrangement is equally applicable to two-Wireor three-Wire systems and fthe necessary Width of the slate or marbleboard A is but little increased by the utilization of a main supplyswitch, such as indicated by C.

A simplified system and construction for the branch-line circuits isalso provided byv this invention. The various branch-line wires J, whichare provided with insulation in the ordinary manner, extend upwardly ordownwardly, as the case may be, along one side of the narrow insulatingboard E and are connected to suitable terminals 35. These terminals arearranged in alinement on one side of the narrow board E, as shown bestby Fig. l, and the branch-line wires J preferably are located on theopposite side and pass through apertures 36 to contact directly with theterminals 35. These terminals preferably are provided withfuse-receiving clips 3T adapted to make contact with thel terminals ofthe fuses 38 or 39, whereby the current may be received from the contactmaking terminals 40 of the type shown by Fig. 8, and with which theblades K, K and l of the branch line switches D and F directly contact,as shown by Fig. l; These terminals 40 may be made alike, thusintroducing economies in manufacturing, and they are arranged inAalinement as shown and'may have replaceable facings 41, as shown by Fig.3, so that the switch blades may contact directly with said terminalsand the actual contact surfaces may be renewed in case of excessivepitting. The narrow board E extends transversely to the bus bars ac, yand z and preferably inclines somewhat to the plane thereof, so as toexpose the fuse-bearing side thereof and thereby facilitate thereplacement of fuses. An advantageous construction for the mounting ofthese boards is shown best, perhaps, by Fig. 5. The upper and lowerpartitions L and M extend transversely to the plane of the board A andin conjunction with the plates L and M form gutters or passageways Nopen at their ends to receive the main line wires vwhich may enterthrough insulated bushings 4'2 and be connected to the main bus bars X,Y and Z. These gutters N also carry the branch-line wires J and saidbranch line Vwires extend inwardly through openings at 43 adjacent eachof the narrow terminal bearing boards E, E', etc. These boards 'eachpreferably form the front Wall of a narrow elongated box madeofoppositely arranged T-irons 44 and 45 bolted at their respective endsto the plates L and M by means of angle pieces 46, An L-shaped strip 47(see Fig. 6) is secured to the T-iron which is positioned nearest theboard A soaps to provide an overhanging lip 48. A closure or cover plate5() has a flange 51 along one edge for engaging the outer' T-iron 44.The opposite longitudinal edge of this plate engages against the innersurface of the over-hanging lip 48 and thereby completes the box. Theseparts may be assembled before the branch line wires are connected butpreferably the cover plate 50 is omitted until the branch line wires arethreaded in place. By this means a wide open and convenient space isprovided for the operation of threading the wires, and after the wireshave been fully threaded the cover plate is then fixed into position.This is done simply by introducing one edge of the plate behind the lip48 and by thereafter fixing the flange 51 to the angular iron 44 bysuitable screws or other mea-ns. lVhen the cover plate is in positionthe wires are entirely concealed, the terminal boards and the parts 44,45, 47, and 50 constituting tubular conductor carriers through which thebranch line conductors extend from the gutters N to their respectivebranch line terminals. ln this way, all the wires are compacted into arelatively small space and are very effectively protected, and theentire rear side of the panel board is free from any exposed wires sothat it has very clean-cut appearance. As indicated by Figs. 4 and 5, aseries of similar boxes E, E, etc., preferably arranged in echelon, willbe provided.

lt will accordingly be perceived that l have devised a simple, durable,efficient switch instrumentality which requires but few parts in itsconstruction and which demands a comparatively small amount of copper orother valuable materials and which, nevertheless, provides for a greatnumber of b 1anch lines within a relatively small space.

Tithout further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthis invention that others can by applying current knowledge readilyadapt it for various applications without omitting certain featuresthat, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention,and therefore such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of thefollowing claims.

Having thus lrevealed this invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure the following combinations of elements, or equivalents thereof.by Letters Patent of the United States:

1. An electrical switch instrumentality combining a series of .bus-barsarranged substantially in the same plane; a number of narrow elongatedboxes extending transversely to said bus-bars at one side thereof; aseries of terminals mounted on one face of each box; wires positionedlongitudinally in each of said boxes and connected with said terminals;and switches arranged to estab- Cit lish electrical connection betweensaid terminals and said bus-bars.

2. nn electrical switch instrumentality eombiring a board of insulatingmaterial; a partion arranged transversely thereto and toi-ming the sideoi a gutter; a narrow elongated box er\:tendingv from said partitioniarallel with said board and having a numbei' oit terminals on a tacethereof; a number et wires arranged in raid gutter and extend' into saidbox 'through an aperture o partition and connecting with said terminals;a plurality of bus-bars arranged parallel with said board andtransversely to said box; and switch blades 'for estabeleci'ricalconnection between said terminals and said bus-bars.

2l. in e`eetrical switch instrumentality combining a board of insulatingmaterial; a pl'i 'ality of bus-bars mounted en the rear tace thereof; apartition extending transversely to (he vrear Jr'ace thereof and forminga side of a conduit t'or branch-line wires and having a seriesl oiopenings; a series of elongated cong 'eringattlieirfnnls withsaid opend.d extending parallel withtherearside ,fr .d board and transversely tosaid busbars and having termin als; branch-line wires extending` throughsaid openings into said conduits and connected with said terminals;switch blades adapted to establish connection betw .en said terminalsand said busbars; and means for operating said switches from the frontside of said board.

4l. .rin electrical switch instrumentality combining a series ofparallel auxiliary busbars arranged in the same plane; a series of mainbus-bars extending transversely t said auxiliary bus-bars and arrangedin a plane at an angle to said first-mentioned plane; a series ofbranch-line terminals arrange l in a plane at an angle with saidiirstmentioned plane; a series of switch-blades extending from saidterminals to said auxiliary bus-bars; and a plurality of branchlinewires connecting with said terminals.

5. A switch-board combining a baseboard; a plurality of parallel stripsof insulating material inclined at an acute angle to said base-board; aplurality of parallel busbars extending transversely to said stripsbetween the same and said baseboard; a plurality of branch-lineterminals arranged adjacent corresponding edges oi said strips inproximity with said bus-bars; and pivotally mounted switch bladesadapted to establish connection between said terminals and saidbus-bars.

G. A switchboard combining a baseboard; a plurality of parallel stripsof insulating material spaced apart and disposed edgewise to saidbase-board and distanced therefrom; a series of parallel bus-barsextending intermediate the ends of the strips between said base-boardand said strips transversely thereto; branch-line terminals mounted onsaid strips; and resilient switchblades pivoted to swing into positionsestablishingelectrical connection between their respective branch-lineterminals and said bus-bars.

7. il switch -board combining a baseboard; a plurality of aarallelstrips oi. insulating material spaced apart adjacent said base-board; anelongated conductor extending transversely to said strips between thesame and said base-board; branch line terminals mounted at the edge oi5said strips adjacent said conductor; and a resilient switch bladepivoted to swing into engagement with its respective branch-lineterminal.

S. A switch -board combining a baseboard; a narrow elongated strip ofinsulating material arranged adjacent one 'face oi: said base-board butspaced away therefrom; a plurality of narrow elongated parallelconductors extending flatwise along the tace ol said base-board betweenthe saine and said strips and transversely thereto; a correspondingnumber oit branch-line terminals, each arranged on said strip adjaceirlits respective conductor; and a corresponding number of resilientlaminated switch blades pivotally mounted so as to be movable into aposition and contacting directly with said conductor and its appropriatebranch-line terminal.

9. ik switch-board combining` a baseboard; a plurality of parallelstrips oil insulating material arranged adjacent one face thereof; aplurality of narrow elongated bus-bars arranged tlatwise adjacent theface of said board and extending transversely to said stripsintermediate the ends of the strips and between the same and said board;a plurality of branch-line terminals carr`ed by said strips; and acorresponding number of switches adapted to connect said terminals withsaid bus-bars.

10. A switch-board combining a plurality of elongated strips ofinsulating materia-l spaced apart in parallelism so as to be arranged inechelon; a number of branch-line cables extending along the rear face ofeach strip; a number of branch-line terminals carricdby the front iaceof each strip and connected across the plane of each strip with itsappropriate branch-line conductor; a main bus-bar extending transverselyto said strips; and switches adapted to establ connection between saidbus-bar and said branch-line terminals.

il. i switch-board combining a baseboard; a plurality of parallel stripsof insulating material arranged at acute angles to said base-board; aplurality of parallel bus-bars extending transversely to said 'stripsbetween the same and said baseboard; a plurality of branch-lineterminals arranged adjacent corresponding edges of said strips invproximity with said bus-bars; and pivotally mounted switch bladesadapted to establish connection between said terminals and saidbus-bars.

1 12. A switch-board combining a baseboard; a plurality of parallelstrips of insulating material spaced apart in echelon adjacent saidbaseboard; an elongated conductor extending transversely to said stripsbetween the same and said base-board; branch-line terminals mounted atthe edge of said strips adjacent said conductor; and a switch-bladepivoted at an intermediate point and adapted to swing to bring its oneend into contact with said conductor and its otherend into contact withits respective branch-line terminal.

13. A switch-board combining a baseboard, a partition carried at oneface of the base-board defining a switch carrying portion at one side ofthe partition and a branch line wire gutter at the other side of thepartition, a plurality of main line contacts and branch line contactsarranged within the switch carrying portion, switch blades movable formaking and breaking engagement between said main line contacts and saidbranch line contacts, a tubular conductor carrier communicating with anopening in said partition, and extending from said partition to saidbranch line contacts serving as a support for said branch line contactsand being adapted to carry the branch line wires therethrough from saidgutter through the opening in said partition into electrical connectionwith said branch line contacts.

14. A switch-board combining a base-board,`

a partition carried at one face of the baseboard defining a switchcarrying portion at one side of the partition and a branch line wiregutter at the other side of the partition, a plurality of main linecontacts and branch line contacts arranged within the switch carryingportion, switch blades movable for making and breaking engagementbetween said main line contacts and said branch line contacts, a carrierextending from said partition to said branch line contacts, said carriercomprising a flat strip of insulating material to which said branch linecontacts are ixed in a row at spaced points away from said partition,said carrier comprising also means fixed to said strip of insulatingmaterial to constitute a tubular inclosure of which the strip ofinsulating material forms one wall, said tubular inclosure communicatingat its end with the opening in said pai'- tition adapted to receivebranch line wires extending from the gutter inwardly through the openingn the partition and along the tacts tubular inclosure to said branchline conln a dead 'face switchboard, the ccmbination with a base boardof insulating material :and a pair oi bus-bars extending insiibstaiilially parallel relation along the rear surface oi' said boardadapted i'or carrying the opposite sides of an electric circuit, oi'branch-line contacts also at the rear of the board one lor each of saidbus bars and being spaced therefrom, switch blades also at the rear oi'the board one for each of said bus bars, means operable from the frontof the board tor moving said switch blades, supporting means for theswitch blades insulating said switch blades from cach ether and holdingthem to move in unison for making and breaking contact between said busbars and the respective adjacent branch line contacts, and bi'anch linewires also at the rear of the board extending transversely oi and acrosssaid bus bars in insulated relation thereto and being connected withsaid branch line contacts.

16. A dead face switch-board combining a series or' bus bars arranged insubstantially parallel relation along the rear surface of theswitchboard, branch line terminals also at the rear of the board one foreach of said bus bars, switch blades also arranged at the rear of theboard one for each of said bus bars, means operable from the front ofthe board for moving said switch blades to make and break contactbetween said bus bars and the respective adjacent branch line terminals,and branch-line wires also at the rear of the board extendingtransversely and across the bus bars in insulated relation thereto andbeing connected with said branch line terminals.

17. A dead face switch-board combining a series of bus bars arranged insubstantially parallel relation along the rear surface of theswitch-board, means deiining a branch line wire gutter also at the rearof the board extending substantially parallel with said bus bars,branch-line terminals also at the rear of the board one adjacent each ofsaid bus-bars, switch blades also arranged at the rear of the board onefor each oi' said bus bars, means operable from the front of the board'for moving said switch blades to make and break contact between saidbus bars and the respective adjacent branch-line terminals, and branchline wires also at the rear of the board extending longitudinally alongsaid gutter and thence laterally from the gutter transversely of andacross the bus bars in insulated relation to the bus bars and intoelectrical connection with said branchline terminals.

18. A switch-board combining a series of bus bars extending side by sidealong one side of the switch board, branch line termi- .nale also at thesame side of the board one -for each bus bar, switch blades alsoarranged at the same side of the board one for each bus bar, means foroperating the switch blades to make and break Contact between said busbars and the respective adjacent branch line terminals, abranch-line-wiresupporting,` member arranged at the same side of theswitch-board and extending transversely of and across the bus-bars, andbranch-line wires extending along,` said supportingl member transverselyor' the busbars and into Connection with said branchline terminals.

19. A switch board combining a basel olf parallel bus-bars supported bysaid base board Vand extending in a direction transverse to said strip,terminals mounted on 20 said strip and positioned in planes other thanthose occupied by said bus-bars and the base board, branch line wiresextending longitudinally of, and carried on, said strip,

and switch blades for establishing electrical 25 connections betweensaid terminals and said bus-bars.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name, as attested by the twosubscribing Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

